This odor can be strong enough to cause discomfort and provoke a gag reflex in some people. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. And, if you happen to spray the urine around your outdoor spacesand far enough away from your house,it will act as almost a complete shield from any unwanted visitors. Virginia Opossums are the only marsupial in the United States, and although commonly confused with raccoons or rats the Virginia Opposum is far from that. The same case goes for fruits too. Building fences surrounding your gardens will not only keep the possums but other predatory animals away. When trapped, animals often lash out in fear, and you may be scratched or bitten if you are not careful. The smell of a potential predator might be enough to deter many possums from hanging around. It is also done to misguide any predator, mistaking the predator into thinking that the opossum was here while, in actuality, it is not. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. These scents come from their sternal glands and the other anal glands. Opossum spray is not one of the ideal smells, To keep the predators away for as long as possible, To keep mark, the territory of an opossum. Habitat Dynamics of the Virginia Opossum in a Highly Urban Landscape. William Krause. However, the opossum, most known for playing dead, is not a dangerous animal. 10 most pungent smells that possums dislike: Camphor, mothball, onion, garlic, hot pepper, fox urine, molasses, tea extract, animal-rooted fertilizer, and fish smell. The Urine is yellow. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. To distract the possum from its usual route, animal-rooted fertilizer works wonder. Yes, opossum pee stinks very severely. You can either place crushed garlic cloves Copyright 2023 WittyQuestion.com | All rights reserved. That (All You Need to Know), Does Lysol Repel Mice? The same is the case for opossums. No, the Urine of humans is not enough to repel an opossum away as humans are not predators of opossums. For instance: A male opossum produces it in the breeding season. So no matter where youre reading, youre covered! So, in this article, besides explaining what possum spray smells like, we talk about other possum scents and much more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Zack DeAngelis, the creator of Pest Pointers. With a smell that almost burns the senses, opossums tend to stay away from onions. Garlic The scent and taste of garlic is sometimes successful in repelling opossums. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If you mix garlic and onions together, this creates a double deterrent effect that will be more effective in repelling opossums. Possum spray smells like a rotting, dead animal. Even though mothballs are used to fend off moths, these balls have another great use. Opossums are identified based on their odor. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Now, just adding, all of the scents were discussing will repel BOTH opossums and possums. When an opossum is scared, its body shuts down and the animal goes stiff, with its teeth bared, and saliva drips from its open mouth. However, opossums are threatened, they can manifest each of the following behavioral characteristics: For opossums, it is an involuntary response. Alternatively, try spreading ammonia, mothballs, or garlic around your house, as these are all smells possums dislike. When Im not out roaming around 50+ acres of pastures, woods, and a freshwater bass pond, Im at my computer writing on Pest Pointers. They will clean up fallen garbage and debris from fruits. and then fight like your life depends on itbecause it does. If you didnt know, one of the ways possums defend themselves is to fall and play dead. You can either place crushed garlic cloves around your yard or mix minced garlic and water, add it to a spray bottle, and spray it on surfaces where opossums are active. This is when they can cause the most damage, and if you happen to have them in your attic or on your roof they can keep you up all night because they will be moving around a lot! Likewise, in your garden or foliage area, place the smells in a way it doesnt hamper the growth and roots of the plants. Possums remain alert and beware of their predators and stay away from them. Apart from playing dead, possums protect themselves using the following defense mechanisms: To do the alligator mouth, possums gape their mouth and bare their teeth threateningly. (Read This First! Do Skunks Eat Pumpkins? By using our site, you agree to our. "We had a possum get in the house through the doggy door, it was in the den for about 4 days before I spotted it. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Generally, opossums use their urine spray or dropping to mark territory and keep their predators away. The whole idea that is associated with these decoys is that they represent predators, and possums that nest and live amongst people for food will stay away from any potential threat. Food attracts possums, like all other scavengers. To learn how to set a live-holding cage trap to get rid of possums, scroll down! If you place mothballs or camphor balls, place them in a sealed container, because the elements in them might have some side effect on your wooden furniture, floor, or carpet. An animal can only get the secretion on itself if its fur brushes the possums anal region. unlocking this expert answer. Make a Peppermint Oil Mixture. However, its not so cute when you find, Read More 5 Things that Attract Ladybugs to Your Home (What to Do)Continue, What can be more annoying than flies buzzing around you and your home? An oil that is extracted from the wood of the camphor trees is used topically as a healing agent. Opossoms do not Spray like skunks. Males will scent by rubbing their sides of their mouths on objects just like how cats scent. Another way possums keep predators away is to cover themselves in drool. One of the most loved ingredients to humans is one of the most hated scents by possums. Open holes provide easy access. Usually, the opossums dig dens or find burrows of other animals to sleep during the day. This article has been viewed 1,145,016 times. Out of many advantages of tea extracts, the prevention of possum is one of them. They will not den near a garlic scent either since they will feel unsafe with the smell. You can shove some garlic cloves into the soil of your garden, near plants. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Note that in many states and municipalities, using quick-kill traps to dispose of possums may be restricted or prohibited. It does not have a scent, but rather it has a very stinking smell. In regions where the opossum population is so much more, for instance, in Australia, they carry out a mass killing of opossums to keep their fields away from destruction by opossum activities. To do the alligator mouth, possums gape their mouth and bare their teeth threateningly. Motion-activated sprinklers tend to be slightly more effective than motion-activated lights. A few years ago, a family of, "I have a pesky possum that comes up to the patio door looking for food. Use thick gloves or a long pole to prevent yourself from getting scratched through the cage. Keep this passage open for a few days to one week before sealing up the hole. If your yard has growing vegetation like tomato, peppers, green foliage, edamame, and beans, this nocturnal creature will raid your yard for sure. To our surprise, we were also feeding this possum, "It's funny how one little critter can become so confusing. Note that possums do not spray their anal secretions like skunks. (Quick Answers), Does Smoke Repel Flies? Exercise extreme caution when releasing a trapped animal. 1. 6. The purpose of anal glands is to rub them across surfaces that want to be marked by an opossum. Theres nothing worse than waking up to some backyard damage or your flower and vegetable garden completely destroyed! Hire a professional to seal the faulty areas. The presence of scent glands is widespread in many animals. Dig a trench around the perimeter of the deck. Spray these around your land to create a sort of displeasure to the opossum and cause it to move somewhere else. ), Do Possums Attack Ducks? Now the DIY smell kit will come in handy. A full dish will definitely attract the possums. What Smells Do Bats Dislike? Securing the lids of the garbage cans down and making sure that all food scraps are in a plastic garbage bag secured in the trash can will help as the smells will be secured, and it wont attract any possums or other animals. Other areas may require that you release the possum on your property or hire a professional to release the possum. Visit our Terms and Conditions for more information. Unbearable, Overwhelming. It'll literally take your breath away. My wife had been bugging me to clean out the garage. It was a beautiful spring day This putrid smell along with their dead state is what really drives the predators away. Both bleach and ammonia have sharp, unpleasant odors that are likely to drive possums away. But the truth has unraveled pretty soon to us, and we realized what a wreck this possum creature could create around the house, garden, and backyard. Place the screening or flashing in the trench. Close an empty trap at dawn to prevent the accidental trapping of a diurnal animal. This odor can be strong enough to cause discomfort and provoke a gag Fidino, M. A., Lehrer, E. W., & Magle, S. B. Opossums become a problem when they decide to den in your decks, sheds, crawl spaces, attics, or any other man-made structures. Several chemical possum repellents are available on the market, such as predator urine or essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus. Opossums may try to taste the onion at first, but as soon as they do, theyre sure to get a surprise and not try that again! Vultures and possums are two creatures that use foul odors to their advantage. Commercial crops can be devastated, as can home gardens and prized trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers. This secretion differs from what they release when playing dead. (All You Need to Know). Although with benefits to humans, the strong methol scent of camphor is widely hated by the possum population and can be used in a paste form on the trunks of trees, roof shingles, and on pavers and blocks to create barriers to deter possums. Camphor, mothball, onion, garlic, hot pepper, fox urine, molasses, tea extract, animal-rooted fertilizer, and fish smell are the smells possums dislike. To add pet fur to your outdoor spaces, collect the hair that your pet has shed, or use the hair that is in the brush after you brush your pet and place it around the perimeter of your outdoor spaces. They do not deliberately fall to the ground, foaming at the mouth, tongue out, staring blank, and smelling rotten to keep predators off. Lets find out what smells these possums abhor and get away from. When threatened, opossums run, growl, belch, urinate, and defecate. (You can also try using an ammonia-based glass cleaner like Windex, but its not as As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). "My mom has stray cats around her house that she loves to feed. They will almost always exist in places where there are lush green, Read More 5 Reasons Snails Are In Your Garden (And How To Remove Them)Continue, Imagine yourself taking a walk outside in the morning to have a nice cup of coffee and some bird-watching time, only to find out that, Read More Keeping Raccoons Out of Your Bird Feeder: A Step-By-Step GuideContinue, Your email address will not be published. After reading your article, I was able to learn and educate my mom on the correct way to avoid and try to get rid of this possum. The onion smells almost burns their senses and repels them from returning. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. (All You Need to Know), Does Citronella Repel Wasps? 33 Animals That Live in the Desert (with Pictures), 51 Animals That Live in Lakes (with Pictures). Onion peel also comes in handy to shoo away the possums. Exploration Squared is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Create an escape route for the possum or a trap cage for it to elope away. MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News. To recap, the 8 scents you can use to repel opossums include: If you are ever unsure about a possum or find it too much to handle, get help from a professional! Activate your 20% discount now! (Read This First! Please, consult a professional before this one. So, you must secure your pantry well. There is a terrific product called Natures Miracle. All you need do is cover the dog with it, you don't even have to rinse. It works great, I had a However, this process may attract foxes if they are nearby. 2. We all have seen possum repellent in markets and super shops, right? What does it mean when you wear a bandana in your back pocket? The Short Answer. Learn more Learn more Learn more Learn more Learn more www.explorationsquared.com Learn more Do Possums Attack Rabbits? Securing side handles to stakes driven into the ground will prevent the trash bins from tipping over. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. You can splash either bleach or ammonia on a rag and leave it around your house or property. It can be smelled from afar. It would interest you to know that possums have more than one pair of anal glands. (2006). Possum. It smells like possum. No? Set the trap on soft ground or place it on plywood if setting it on a hard surface. The poops smell like ammonia gas. Its own predators Urine can only repel an opossum. Camphor overpowers an opossums senses and doesnt signal a food source, leading to them staying away. She screamed and the possum ran. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Remove Food Sources Food attracts possums, like all other scavengers. Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. Some animals mistake opossums for being dead and pass by without even fully noticing it. Possums and trashes have some attraction chemistry that we humans can never comprehend. Possums are known Much like the pet fur, or the wolfs urine, the decoy presents an actual animal, and it will be hard for a possum to tell if its real or not since it wont get close enough! Opossums can become a problem if they stick around your home. Perhaps doing this helps them attract mates. Follow these tips to learn how to get rid of them from the yard_. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Opossums have a strong sense of smell that they use to locate food. Live-holding traps are rarely banned, however. Always throw your trash away in a sealed bag impenetrable by possums. In case you keep your dry foods in the normal, non-air-tight container, their supercharged and powerful nose will run towards your pantry in search of food. Opossums are used to being in the dark; being in light will make them feel unsafe as predators can see them and will actually confuse a possum itself. Moreover, the territory can be retained. Purchasing motion lights or animal deterrent lights like theseThanos Nighttime Animal Deterrent Lightswill scare nocturnal animals away. Eliminate the food sources to remove your possum problem. Thank you for clarification on the topic. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This menthol-based product unfurls the most abhorrent smell for possums. If you didnt know, one of the ways possums defend themselves is to fall and play dead. WebThe scent released by possums is known to be pungent and musky, similar to the smell of rotten meat. Do not place climbing plants near or on the house, especially not near the eaves areas. To make the paste, mix a few drops of camphor oil such asSVA Organics Camphor Essential Oilwith plenty of petroleum jelly and use it to make a shield around the spots that the possums are getting into. There are several ways to get rid of them if they are hanging out in your yard. The average possum weighs 5 pounds, where the average opossum weighs. Many Its tough, Read More Why Its Tough To Repel Beavers (How To Do It Anyways)Continue, Wouldnt it be great if more rats would come out during the daytime when Im awake? Thought probably no one ever! This is done for two main reasons: Both of these serve advantageous for the opossums as they can be kept safe and alive. My. Adding a detergent or dish soap into the mix will help make a thicker spray and will allow the scent to linger for a little longer. Well, were getting to that. You can also use garlic oil which has a more distinct stinky smell than the original garlic. The truth of the matter is that you may have an opossum problem. Web10 smells that possums dislike and how to use them: Pungent, ammonic, stinky all the smells associated with these are threats to the possums. Be careful, though; both of these chemicals are skin irritants and may cause respiratory problems. Remove Food Sources. This site is owned and operated by Pest Pointers LLC | pestpointers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Using their enemy pungent, ammonic, stinky smell, we can shoo the possums away and keep our home safe and sound. (Quick Answers), Does Lysol Repel Flies? We were just looking for a deterrent for possums. Its strong, cold smell deters the possum population from a wide range. Possums and humans Possums arent dangerous by nature, but they will defend themselves when threatened. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Not only the door but also the ceiling, any moldy area, or any place from where possums can get access. Opossums don't spray a smell like skunks do, however they do emit a smell when they play dead. Playing dead is an involuntary reaction from fear or The sense of safety is triggered when these animals smell fox urine. Arguably maybe the easiest and quickest way to deter possums, molasses is something we all have in our pantries and can be used right now. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Catching and killing possums is not illegal in some states in America. Opossums have a round face and round body with brown or golden fur, and opossums have gray to white coarse fur with a pointed face. It can be as simple as a bucket thats been outside too long, woodpiles, wheel barrels upside down, or any type of debris that makes for a dry, sheltered space. The odor is so repulsive for some predators that they cannot even withstand it. They can also destroy what is in the home roof once it becomes their shelter. In spring when pine pollen cones are common the pellets can be bright yellow. What home remedy will get rid of possums? Krause, W. J., & Krause, W. A. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Possum pellets can have a distinctive smell rather like pickled onions. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Get-Rid-of-Possums-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Rid-of-Possums-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Get-Rid-of-Possums-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid2585581-v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Possums-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"